Not Your Average Bus Tour: New York Splash Tours

Your tour first takes you down Broadway as your Tour Guide explains some of the history of Times Square and its buildings. You will see the MTV Studios, the ABC Studios, and the old New York Times Building where the ball is dropped every New Years Eve. Your AquaBus then heads across town towards the east, past the New York Public Library, past the Empire State Building, and back across town to the west where you will pass Macy's and Herald Square where the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade terminates each year. With each neighborhood you pass, your Tour Guide will be giving you the history of the various buildings, pointing out architectural details and providing you with bits of trivia.

When you reach 12th Avenue on the West Side, you pause briefly to switch your bus driver for a boat captain and your vehicle then enters the AquaBus Theater - a multi-media drive-in movie theater. You will view a brief film that recreates Henry Hudson's exploration of the River that bears his name. You will experience the sights, sounds and even a bit of the weather that Henry Hudson may have experienced on his voyage aboard his ship - The Half Moon. (By now, you've hopefully put on your poncho!)

Once the film is complete, the real fun begins! Your captain revs the engine and drives your AquaBus straight into the Hudson. They don't call it the Splash Tour for nothing! This portion of the tour was by far my favorite part. As your boat motors around the river, you get an unforgettable view of the New York City skyline. Not to mention the docks on the West Side where you can find ferries crossing, cruise ships docking and pleasure boats sailing by. (The water can get a little choppy at times so if you are prone to motion sickness, make sure to take some Bonine before boarding. ) Your tour guide will give you some of the history of the river and how it has been cleaned up in the years since it was lined with factories, but most of your time on the water is spent simply enjoying the views while New York-themed music plays over the speakers.

About the Author: Sara is the Editor of PassPorter News and PassPorter's Online Coordinator. She lives in New England with her husband and their three year old son. They are looking forward to their next Disney trip - MouseFest 2007!

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Reader Comments:

Thanks for the review. I'll have to check it out - and I live here

     jimmymac on November 16, 2007 @ 1:18 pm

I live right across the river and I think this tour sounds like a blast for out of town guests coming to visit! Thanks for the review!

     akleos on November 17, 2007 @ 1:44 pm

I used to live in the city as well and was surprised how much I enjoyed the tour. I do recommend it for locals! But it's perfect for guests from out of town.

     Belle* on November 17, 2007 @ 7:00 pm

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Updated 10/25/2007 - Article #218 

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